Biography
Dr. Cihak enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1981 and served as a Pararescueman for eight years. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Vocational Education, he was commissioned through the Officer Training School in 1990. After successfully completing undergraduate pilot training in 1991, Dr. Cihak served in numerous operation assignments as a B-52G, B-52H, B-1B, B-2A pilot, aircraft commander, mission commander, and instructor pilot.
In 2004, Dr. Cihak was selected to attend the Air Force’s Advanced Degree Program School of Advanced Air and Space Studies where he earned his third master’s degree. Dr. Cihak continued to serve in the Air Force for another 10 years in various operation staff assignments as the Chief of Strategy, Director of Plans, and Director of Operations in Central and South America, the Middle East, and the Pacific Regions. Dr. Cihak retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2015 as the Vice Commander of the Pacific Air Operations Center.
Dr. Cihak and his family relocated to the Lynchburg area where he began serving with Liberty University as the Director of Flight Operations until 2018 when he transitioned to serving as a faculty member with the School of Aeronautics.